Outrage over damage to college students' murals in Kaikohe

DAMAGED: Tagging on one of the murals in Kaikohe.

Kaikohe residents are outraged at the vandalism of a series of college students' murals of famous Northlanders, including some of Maoridom's most respected figures.

The damage occurred around 8pm on Saturday. Various tags and scribbles have been scratched into murals depicting, among others, Dame Whina Cooper, Allen Wihongi, Willy Apiata, Sir James Henare and Hone Heke Ngapua.

The murals line Marino Court, also known as Library Square, and were painted last year by Northland College pupils directed by artist Chris Wilkie.

The damage occurred around the same time as a large plate glass window at Greenworld Health Fare was smashed in the alley leading to Marino Court.

Owner Mike Fitzgerald was startled by the sound of breaking glass and found a young man trying to make off with a bicycle stored at the back of the shop. He dropped the bike, jumped through the broken window and fled on foot with a group of youths.

Mr Fitzgerald had been enjoying a recent drop in crime in Kaikohe but now fears that may have been temporary. He suspected the same youths were responsible for damaging the murals and breaking windows at the public toilets on Marino Place.

"These boys have no mana," he said.

"We have been really quiet around town for quite a few weeks now, which has been great. And it's sad that we now have another group causing problems."

On the same night, a break-in was attempted at the iwi-owned Paper Plus shop and Kaikohe Bowling Club was vandalised.